# Oral Flea Preventive to Control Rickettsia typhi–Infected Fleas on Reservoir Opossums, Galveston, Texas, USA, 2023–2024

## TL;DR

This study tested an oral flea preventive in opossums to control fleas that spread murine typhus, showing it was highly effective.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the effectiveness of spinosad as an oral flea preventive in reducing flea populations on opossums.

## Key findings

- Spinosad killed 98% of fleas infesting opossums.
- Oral flea preventives may help curb the spread of murine typhus to humans.

## Abstract

Murine typhus, a fleaborne bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia typhi, has reemerged and spread in the United States. We tested spinosad, an oral flea preventive, in opossum flea reservoirs. Spinosad killed 98% of fleas infesting opossums. Oral preventives could control fleas in host species and curb murine typhus spread to humans.